Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-31
CIVIL+SERvICE REFORM.
Report Of the League Comuattee.
The ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE VERY wELL-SHARP
CRITICISM OF MARYLAND APPOINTNENTs.

The committee appointed by the National Civil
Service Reform League to investigate the working
OF the c1vil-Service law have made their report.
They state that the result OF their inquiry in the
departments at Washington shows that the ad.
m1nlstraton OF the civil-sertce law has been very
satisfactory. AS TO appointments and removals in
the states, they claim that the administrations
application Of the law has been irregular and
inconsistent; but, upon the whole, the admin
lstrat1on has done very Well, and has seriously
shaken the Spoils system. The great public Offices
which have heretofore been used as political head
quarters, they say, have been brought down to a
strictly business basis
THE DEPARTMENTAL SERVICE
In the departmental service the report saws.
The removals were 618 per cent for fifteen months
and the appointments per cent; in the State De.
per cent; Treasury, removals AZ appointments
1Oh; War Department, removals 3 per cent. an
pointments $50 per cent: Post-ofice Depart
cent; Interior Department, removals per cent.
appointments per cent; Department OF Justice.
rsiaovals3 , per cent, appointments 12k per cent.
Inc report on the Whole from Washington is graft
Tying, though individual cases OF dlSobedence OF
the law have been reported.
IN TILE STATES
The cases OF appointments in New York: Indi
ana, and Maryland are thoroughly reviewed and
the conclusion deduced that where the adherence
has been strengthened in popular favor
The administration has not, it is stated, ad-
hered inf1exibly to uniform policy, and in many
States OF Indiana and Maryland, its conduct has
greatly disheartened many friends OF reform In
other parts OF the country, as in the city OF New
YORK and In New England, Its chief appointments
have been generally so excellent as TO command
public respect and confidence
The committee condemn without qualification
many or the appointments In Maryland and Mis-
souri, as we'll as in Indiana. Much space is devoted
to the discussion OF the Maryland appointments
THE INFLUENCE OF SENATOR GORNAN
POLITICALLY speaking, :" the report says senator
German was the very thing to be reformed and
his interference and solicitation upon the subject
of appointments, upon which he was to vote as
Senator, would be evidently an insult to the Ex-
ecutive and gross abuse OF the Constitution. In
view OF the convictions OF the President OF the re-
form purpose Of the administration, and OF the
proper relations OF the executive and legislative
authority it seemed to be plain that senator Cor
man would not, in the current phrase control the
patronage of the State. But this conviction II it
should become general, would be fatal to the Sen.
atOr'S plans and It was, therefore absolutely in
dispensable for him that it should be removed at
the very beginning OF the administration by some
positive, Significant and unmiStakable act. This
made by the administration, that OF Eugene Hie-
gins, prominent political retainer OF the Sena-
tors to an Important minor position In the Treas
It is further that there is noreason seriously
onered for such selections for public Office as those
OF Messrs Higgins Morris A. Thomas, Rasin and
many Others, or Tor the removal of General Ap-
pralSer combs and others, but that such action
was recommended by Senators and Representa-
ttyeS In Congress and by reputable citizens.
WITH RESPECT TO THE ADMINISTRATION,
the report sums up as follows: "Tried by the
standard Of absolute fidelity to the reform as it is
understood by this league, it is not to be denied
that this administration has left much to be de-
sired. But upon the showing of this report which
has neither concealed nor eXtenuated the most in.
furious facts; If our estimate Of the situation be
just, the administration, under enormous disad-
vantageS and'perplexitieS, has accomplished much
for the reform OF the civil service Whatever just
den1able that the old .spoils SYSTEM has been
seriously shaken Notwithstanding evident par
tisan pressure the administration has practically
civil service is not demanded by the intelligence
OF the country, and is not necessary for honest,
and This
Never before since the partisan prostitution OF
the civil service began has the middle OF the
political places in that service distributed between
the two parties. Satisfactory Officers in various
positions have served out their terms, and some
have been reappolnted when their terms expired,
fact hitherto almost unknown after party
change In the national executive. The frag-
mentary results OF reform which had been secured
by previous administrations have been fully main
been remarkably enlarged Great public onoes,
have been transformer Into strictly business
or1ces. Not for half century has there been less
obnoxious political activity among o11ce holders
Political assessments, although not entirely
abolished, have been enectualy discredited and
discontinued, where they were formerly arbitra-
rily enforced. Confidence and self respect have
been consequently stimulated throughout the SER
vice and its morale, which tenure by personal and
political fav0ritism destroys, has been signally
elevated and strengthened"
The report is signed by Geo. VIM. Curtis, Carl
SchurZ, Wayne MacVeagh, ChasL j. Bonaparte,
Chas. r. Goldman, Chas. Claflin Allen, VIM. Potts,
committee.